Residents of Malegaon have been demanding the creation of a separate district comprising Malegaon, Kalwan, Baglan, Chandwad, Nandgaon and Yeola talukas, since the two decades. They point out that Malegaon is the biggest town in the district after Nashik, but is about 110 km from the district headquarters.

Further, the town has an additional superintendant of police as well as government offices, which would reduce expenditure on creation of a new district as the existing infrastructure can be utilised.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, Social Welfare Minister Babanrao Gholap and Housing Minister Suresh Jain have allsympathised with the demand. Local Shiv Sainiks have spearheaded the all-party demand for the past three years.

Joshi had promised to carve out a new district of Malegaon early this year. However, when Dhule district was bifurcated to create Nandurbar district on July 1, residents of Malegaon intensified their own agitation. The chief minister then announced that some new districts, including Malegaon would be created on May 1, 1999.

However, the two Bharatiya Janata Party ministers hailing from Kalwan, Dr Aher and Pawar have suggested that instead of creating a separate Malegaon district, Kalwan should be carved out as an alternative. Over the last weekend, both ministers have been putting forth their demand to create Kalwan district comprising Kalwan, Baglan, Peth, Surgana and Dindori tehsils.This invited the wrath of Malegaon residents, who have now decided to bar the ministers from entering the town. The call has been given by the Janata Raja, which is supported by local Sainiks.

The move by the twoministers is being viewed as a ploy to scuttle the creation of Malegaon district on May 1, as promised by Manohar Joshi and this is likely to widen the rift between the alliance partners in the government as the demand for Malegaon district is essentially seen as the demand of the Sena.